must cover the way that schools/FEIs/local authorities undertake their duties under the Act and the way that ALP is made and delivered, including if it is felt that the ALP is not being delivered in a suitable manner or to a suitable quality. 18.18 In the first instance the child, child’s parent or young person should be supported to raise their concerns at the most suitable local level. In many instances this will be with the education setting that the child or young person attends, e.g. the pre-school setting, school or FEI. 18.19 Local authorities should consider how their arrangements can incorporate or complement existing complaint procedures which exist within schools and FEI in order to ensure that disagreements can be resolved as soon as possible at the most local level possible. 18.20 The purpose of resolution disagreement services is to be a positive way of resolving disagreements quickly. The arrangements can help resolve the issues and provide the opportunity to restore or improve the relationship between the child, child’s parent or the young person and the school, FEI or local authority and help foster the understanding that the child or young person is central, with everyone working together to support the child or young person. 18.21 Furthermore, where a maintained school has made a decision that a child or young person has ALN, or has refused to make a decision, the child, child’s parent or young person has an opportunity to request that the local authority reconsiders the matter. 256 Similarly, if a school maintains an IDP for a child or young person and the child, child’s parent or young person considers that the IDP does not meet the needs of the child or young person, then the local authority can be asked to reconsider and revise the plan. 257 18.22 The local authority’s disagreement resolution arrangements should deal with any questions from the child, child’s parent or young person. It should be explained that the arrangements are informal and accessible, and provide a simple process designed to bring two parties together to clarify the issues and reach a resolution. 18.23 Using the disagreement resolution arrangements will generally reduce the need to take a dispute to the Tribunal. It should lead to a quicker resolution of any disagreements, save significant time and money, and minimise disruption to the child or young person’s learning. 18.24 Disagreement resolution arrangements should: be practical; be accessible; help to bring together the relevant parties; 256 Section 24 of the Act. 257 Section 25 of the Act. Page | 172

support the needs of the child and young person; help to achieve early and informal resolution of disagreements through discussion and agreement; discuss the full range of options; ensure the minimum disruption to the child or young person’s education. 18.25 All participants, including the child, child’s parent or young person, need to feel confident that their views, wishes and feelings will be listened to. The purpose of disagreement resolution is not to apportion blame, but to seek to resolve disagreements by achieving a solution to a difference of views in the best interests of the child or young person. The arrangements should be suited to the participants. 18.26 When a child, child’s parent or young person decides to use the disagreement resolution arrangements, the parties should arrange to meet at a time suited to all and an open communication channel should be kept with prompt responses to any requests. This should be arranged at the earliest possible opportunity to enable a prompt resolution. The child, child’s parent or young person should be supported to make their views known. 18.27 For example, good use of resolving disagreement arrangements should: narrow down the areas of disagreement in one or more component parts of a dispute; identify points of difference whilst maintaining or creating good working relationships between the parties; unlock provision of further information or assist parties to agree key facts; clarify the key questions which need to be answered in order to resolve the dispute; and try to reach agreements on particular points. 18.28 The arrangements can include aspects such as pre meeting conversations with both sides of the disagreement, a neutral venue within an agreed timescale (there may need to be more than one meeting) and an ‘agreements reached’ and/or ‘agreement to disagree’ statement following the process. Independence of Persons Helping to Resolve Disagreements 18.29 As part of the disagreement resolution arrangements, the local authority must include provision for parties to the disagreement to access help in resolving that disagreement from persons who are independent of the Page | 173